Serbia - Grizzlies' Darko Milicic admits he's homesick

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Grizzlies center Darko Milicic's name never enters the discussion. But that's OK with the 7-foot Serbian. He's not necessarily thinking about the NBA as a long-term proposition.

Milicic, who also will be a 2010 free agent, said his change of address could see him returning to Europe.

"I lot of days I think that," Milicic said, "because the only way to be me is in Europe. I don't want to be a defensive player the rest of my career. It's not really what I want to do."

The former No. 2 overall draft pick (2003) hasn't developed into the offensive dynamo league executives envisioned based on workouts. Expectations were high when Detroit selected Milicic ahead of Carmelo Anthony (Denver), Wade (Miami) and Bosh (Toronto).

Six seasons and three teams later, Milicic says he has been wrongly typecast as a defensive, physical center. The Grizzlies signed him as a free agent in 2007 for those reasons.

Milicic lost the starting job this season to rookie Spaniard Marc Gasol, partly based on his offensive inconsistency.

"In Europe, I can be a different player with the ball going through me," Milicic said. "Here, you take a shot and you just don't want to miss. You think too much.

"I want to get my confidence back on the offensive end. I want the ball to go through me so I can have a chance to miss without worrying about it. And I want a chance to make plays. (Europe) has good basketball, and it would be closer to home."

Milicic's salary is $7 million for this season and he will be paid $7.5 million for the 2009-10 campaign.

His role on the court, not money, will be Milicic's deciding factor, he said.

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace didn't sound surprised to hear about Milicic's musings. Most European players gladly and quickly assimilate into American culture, but Milicic has resisted that urge, according to Wallace.

Griz coach Marc Iavaroni's belief is that Milicic has finally carved out a niche after an up-and-down career.

Milicic has been fairly consistent providing rebounding and strong interior defense off the bench. He's proven less reliable as a starter but seems to rise to the occasion against elite players.

Milicic harassed San Antonio's Tim Duncan into 6-for-18 shooting Monday during the Grizzlies' loss.

"Right now, for us to win Darko has to continue to be an elite defender. He's got to do as much defensive rebounding as possible, and I'd like him to block some more shots," Iavaroni said. "Offensively, when he's running the floor he's at his best. When he gets deep position, he really helps this team with deep paint catches and finishes."

Returning to Europe may not be the only remedy for Milicic's rather shaky offense.

Finishing at the rim isn't always Milicic's strong suit because he tends to play with finesse around the rim instead of dunking with authority. His shooting touch from beyond the foul line comes and goes, too.

"And he's got to make his free throws," Iavaroni said. "People are going to foul him. Finishing and making free throws is a big part of being a center. We'll get back to (having the ball go through Milicic) when I see the focus and efficiency on offense."

For now, Milicic accepts his role with the Grizzlies because he wants to win as much as satisfy those individual goals.

"It's better for the team that I come off the bench so I want to do what coach thinks is best," Milicic said. "I just go out there and play basketball."

Where that will be in 2010 could be an intriguing story.

"I used to enjoy playing and scoring," Milicic said. "This isn't the way I want to finish my career."